Sponge-holder and envelope-moistener



(No Model.)

G. T. HUNSAKER.

SPONGE HOLDER AND ENVELOPE MOISTENER. No. 350,368. Patented Oct. 5, 1886 10127255535? jwmziar. MM j 62 0796 TmlHSQ/(ET w ack the following to be a full, clear, and exact deletters or figures of reference marked thereon,

cal axis, and a plate bearing upon the top of when the gummed edge of an cnvelope,or the volve and allow the envelope to be drawn UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE'T. HUNSAKER, OF OARTHAGE, ILLINOIS.

SPONGE-HOLDER AND ENVELOPE-MOtSTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,368, dated October 5, 1886.

Application filed July 31, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. HUNSAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Garthage, in thecounty of Hancock and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSponge-Holders and Envelope-lVIoisteners; and I do hereby declare scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to which forms a part of this specifieatiom.

The object of this invention is to provide a convenient and useful device for sealing and stamping envelopes, whereby they can be readily moistened for sealing and stamping without requiring them to be wet with the tongue; and the invention consists, essentially, of a sponge-cup which can rotate on a vertithe sponge, which can also rotate on a vertical axis in company with the sponge, so that part tojwhich the stamp is to be affixed, is drawn through between the sponge and the plate,with the surface to be moistened next to the sponge, the'sponge and the plate rethrough with facility.

In the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of my'invention, A is an ornamental stand supporting the device. It maybe made to be used as a paper-weight, or it may be attached to an inkstand, or a penrack, or to any of the various articles ordinarily used on a writing-desk.

B is a sponge-cup holding a sponge, C, and supported on a spindle, b, on which or by means of which it can rotate.

D is a round perforated plate made concave, orwith an upward-flaring edge, and having the shaft d,which turns in a hole in the arm a. The plate rests on the sponge, and the spring 0, encircling the shaft (1, holds it down with a gentle pressure. The foot of the spindle I) may simply rest in a socket in the base-plate of the st and,or the spindle may be fixed to the base-plate and the cup B rest on top of it, a small socket being made in the bottom of the cup to engage with the point of the spindle. A second sponge and cup is shown at F for' general use; but that does not constitute any Serial No. 209,632. (No model.)

part of the present inyention; it simply shows 5 how other conveniences may be combined with this invention.

To use the device,the sponge being moistened, the edge of the flap of the envelope,with the gummed side down, is inserted between 6: the pressure-plate D and the sponge and drawn through,either to the right or to the left,which causes the sponge-cup and plate to rotate and gives a wiping motion to the sponge on the gummed face of the flap. The flap is then 6: turned down and sealed and the stamp-corner of the envelope drawn through in the same way and moisteneghready to receive a stamp. To do the stamping rapidly it is most convenient to have the postage-stamps lying with the 7: gummed face up, and as each envelope is moistened immediatel y press it down upon the stamp, and the work is done without requiring the use of the tongue. The perforated concave plate D allows the sponge to be read- 7 ily moistened, as the water can be simply poured on top of the plate; but it can be instantly lifted out of its place, dipped in a glass of water, and returned.

Having thus described my invention, what'I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sponge-cup supported on a vertical axis on which it can revolve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 2. Thecombination,witharevolvingspongecup, of a plate bearing against the surfaceof the sponge, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Theeombinatiomwitharevolvingsponge- 0 cup, of a revolving plate bearing "against the surface of the sponge, the axes of the plate and sponge-cup being in line with each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with asponge-cup revolving on a vertical axis, of a spring-pressed plate resting on the sponge, and also revolvingon a vertical axis, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

5. The combination, with the revolving 10 sponge-cup, of the perforated concave plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. v,

. GEO. T. HUNSAKER.

Witnesses:

J. G. JOHNSON, WM. DUGDALE. 

